About 2 years ago I worked/taught at a local college in Leeds, my class was for special needs students. I thought it would be a good idea to invite the community police officer in to talk to the students about looking after themselves traveling to college etc.
The policeman was rather frank on his views of the police force and admitted openly that over 70% of the current police in Leeds were inappropriate and joined for completely the wrong reasons. I was more then shocked at some of the things he told us...
In the early nineties I was invited to Firhill High School (my local HS) to teach self defence to sixth formers. I had arranged a weekly visit over 6 weeks. It was great fun, nothing too technical, just basic how to defend yourself and restraining techniques. I got a great response from the kids, especially the females, many of whom had stories to tell of being molested/bag snatched etc.
4 weeks in and the local community bobby visited me at the office in Redford Barracks and started to lecture me on why iI shouldn't be encouraging violence within the youngsters at the school. I couldn't believe how naieve he was and he clearly didn't understand that these kids, more often had experienced far more violence than I was ever going to show them.
I invited him to my next lesson and had him join in as well as take time to speak to these kids. He certainly came away with a different view at the end of it and admitted that as much he was the local bobby, he had never had much time to mix with the kids as he had done on that day.
Geo